 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| USAID Information:
External Links:
|
|
|
|
|
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Statement by Ambassador Randall L. Tobias
U. S. Director of Foreign Assistance and Administrator of USAID
Nepal Memorial Service
14th Street Lobby
Ronald Reagan Building
November 7, 2006
Thank you all for coming. I especially want to thank those who knew Margaret and Bijnan best-their families-for being with us this afternoon. I also want to thank Ambassador Hodges, Carter Roberts from the World Wildlife Fund, and Mr. Rudra Nepal from the Embassy of Nepal for joining us at USAID today.
As many of you know, Margaret Alexander spent most of her career as a USAID lawyer, serving in Africa in the Regional Office for West Africa in Abidjan, the Regional Center for Southern Africa in Botswana, the Regional Office for East Africa in Nairobi, and in Swaziland and Haiti.
She also served as Assistant General Counsel for the Europe and Eurasia Bureau in Washington and took up her position as Deputy Director in Nepal a year ago. This was her first tour in Asia.
In July, she celebrated 20 years of service to the United States Government. She was born in New York City and graduated from Bryn Mawr and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Dr. Bijnan Acharya was a dedicated Foreign Service National who worked with USAID Nepal for more than a decade. He served as an Environmental Officer, responsible for all environmental impact assessments in the country. He also managed the USAID environmental programs with the NGO community.
Among his many academic degrees, Bijnan received two undergraduate degrees from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu and his PhD from Leiden University in The Netherlands.
When the helicopter they were traveling in went down on September 23, USAID lost two beloved colleagues, along with 22 other passengers equally dedicated to the cause of environmental conservation in Nepal.
Word of the tragedy reverberated here in this building as it did-throughout the world-in over 80 missions and wherever our USAID family is located. Nepal declared a day of mourning in their honor. It was a fitting tribute to such wonderful people. Flags were lowered simultaneously here at the Ronald Reagan Building, over at the Harry S. Truman Building, and in Nepal.
We lost two good friends and colleagues. And the world of development lost two dedicated and talented individuals.
It is also fitting that Margaret and Bijnan will be conferred the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service. The Thomas Jefferson Star is the highest award given by the U.S. Department of State to those employees or citizens injured or killed while serving overseas.
The outpouring of emotion and affection is recorded in these books here. The words recorded in them sought to give expression to the precious memories of Margaret and Bijnan. Some were fortunate enough to know Margaret and Bijnan well. Some had even shared meals and jokes with them. They feel the pain of loss personally.
Others wanted to pay tribute to admirable qualities that distinguished them-and continue to distinguish this Agency-which these two individuals possessed in abundance: openness, exhilaration for challenge, love of country, and an infectious enthusiasm that comes from involvement in an enterprise of grand importance.
Their names now join other like-minded individuals on this plaque who gave their all to make the vision of a better world a reality.
Let me read just two of these testimonials:
Margaret was a warm, insightful, humorous presence in my whole professional career, starting in Niger. She would come up from Abidjan and hold court in the courtyard, smoking and dispersing wisdom and approval. While we were never in the same post, I ran across her in Nairobi, DC, and most recently in Nepal. It was always such a treat to see her again.
I counted her as a good friend, a stalwart warrior for development who maintained humor in all circumstances. She loved her work and I can only suppose she will have been satisfied to "die with her boots on" although it was much too early and too sad. I will always think of her with fondness and the greatest respect.-Sara Wryth
My shock and sadness at Bijnan's untimely death are inexpressible.I will forever cherish him as a friend and colleague with whom I worked so closely over my four years in Nepal. I admired and valued his technical expertise, his commitment to his work and his country, his tireless hard work of the highest quality and his kindness to me as his office chief. I learned a lot from Bijnan-in the office and on our many trips to project sites-and saw first hand how his efforts benefited thousands of Nepalese families and helped preserve Nepal's unique natural resources. My profound condolences are extended to Bijnan's family. -Donna Stauffer
When this tragic accident occurred, Margaret and Bijnan were on an environmental mission in one of the most majestically beautiful countries in God's creation. This was Bijnan's particular field of expertise.
On that very Saturday, Margaret's words were being read by the Nepalese in the op-ed pages of that country's newspapers.
She was bringing home to readers the importance of literacy to improving lives and spreading freedom and opportunity. You cannot read her words without a sense of poignancy.
Her article begins in a series of two-word sentences: "Social inclusion. Women's empowerment. Poverty reduction. Participatory government. Sustainable development." These are important goals for Nepal, she goes on to say. In fact, Margaret was saying more than she may have intended. These are not only appropriate goals for Nepal. They define the mission of this Agency and their advancement is of the utmost importance to this country and the world. No one could possibly have known on that Saturday that these words would survive the speaker.
We can take some consolation at such a sad moment for having known such people. And we can take solace in knowing that what they stood for and did will continue to live after them through the continuation of the work they believed in, both in Nepal and in all the countries where USAID works.
There were twenty-four on board that helicopter September 22nd, including Mr. Gopal Rai, the Nepalese Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation, and his wife. Also among the passengers were Mr. Pauli Mustonnen, Charge d'Affairs, Embassy of Finland. Mr. Matthew Preece who, having worked with WWF, had recently been accepted as a New Entry Professional (NEP) and was looking forward to a career in USAID-was also on board.
In addition to Matthew, the World Wildlife Fund lost six other team members that day-Dr. Chandra Gurung, Dr. Harka Gurung, Jennifer Headly, Dr. Jill Bowling, Mingma Norbu Shema, and Yeshi Lama.
Later this month, I will join Carter Roberts and others at the National Cathedral for WWF's memorial service to remember all who perished.
Our prayers and condolences go out to them and their families.
Back to Top ^
|
RSS Feed for Recent USAID Speeches and Testimony
